Grizzlies’ Executive Comments on Ty Jerome’s Addition Add Salt to Cavaliers’ Wound
The Cleveland Cavaliers faced a tough offseason blow when they lost Ty Jerome to free agency. Jerome, who played a crucial role in Cleveland’s bench unit and was a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year, signed a three-year, $27.6 million contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. While Cleveland was already feeling the sting of his departure, comments from a Grizzlies executive have only added to the frustration.
In an interview with Spotrac’s Keith Smith, the Memphis executive shared their excitement about adding Jerome, stating, “We had to get some more bench scoring. That’s been a thing we’ve needed for a while now. Ty is going to be huge for us, especially with Desmond (Bane) having been traded. Ty can play with Ja (Morant) or he can carry the second unit. We’re excited about having him.”
Jerome was a key contributor for Cleveland last season, playing in 70 games. He averaged 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, while shooting a remarkable 51.6 percent from the field, 43.9 percent from three, and 87.2 percent from the free-throw line. Despite his importance to the Cavaliers, his departure seemed inevitable given the moves Cleveland made over the summer.
Cleveland’s decision to trade for Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball likely played a role in the departure of Jerome. With Ball expected to take on the primary bench ball-handler role behind Darius Garland, the Cavaliers’ backcourt rotation changed. Although Garland’s early-season injury and Ball’s health concerns could have complicated matters, the trade made it easier for Cleveland to part ways with Jerome.
Moving forward, not having Jerome run the Cavaliers’ second unit will certainly be a change. Ball and Jerome have very different styles, but Jerome’s ability to energize the floor for Cleveland made him a fan favorite. The hope now is that Ball can step up and help maintain the team’s competitiveness in the Eastern Conference and bolster their playoff hopes.
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